Sixers Head to etroit

Sixers are lucky to be facing another depleted team. Otherwise I thought they were going to be blown out with the way they have been playing. As it stands its a toss up. I honestly think the Sixers, despite their record, have been playing as bad as anyone in the NBA right now.

Detroit may have no D but they will probably still mop the floor with the Sixers. Sixers are playing awful...I honestly think they would have trouble beating some college teams. Elton Brand is a flat out bust on this team...he is never going to be even 75% of the player he was 4 years ago. Is Jrue SO bad that he cant play on a team that has been mediocre for almost a decade ? What exactly do we have to lose by playing him ?
I cant stand what this team has become...mediocre with no upside in sight for years to come. I would rather be rebuilding. Thats a little hard though being we tied up a ridiculous amount of money in some really bad contracts...number one bad contract is Brand. This guy is the new Chris Webber...even if hes a "good" guy....bottom line is he cant play at a really high level anymore whether it be injuries, age or the system. It isnt working and theres not a damn thing the sixers can do about it.

Elton Brand is a flat out bust on this team...he is never going to be even 75% of the player he was 4 years ago.

Well is any player of Brands age 75 percent of the player he was 4 years ago? And was he really the player sixer fans perceive him to be. I think the expectations of what Brand was going to bring and what Brand actually is at 100% are vastly different. I think sixers fans expected things from Brand he never did.

I certainly expect a different team to take the floor today, key word being expect. Last year, they seemed to have more verve on the road away from the home crowd (wait, what crowd?). My hope is they will have every-play intensity and not look like they are going through the motions unless it is crunch time, where they seem to somehow find some spark. I don't like the thought of Lou chasing Gordon all around off screens or cutting off Bynum's penetration. Seems like a game with more time for either Ivey or Willie G (Jrue, maybe?). I'm sure Kuester will play small with Stuckey, Gordon, and Bynum in the game at the same time.

Ben Wallace is not decrepit. He's not like he was in 04 or 05 but from all reports he has still been effective for them. If Dalembert gets into foul trouble or doesn't keep his head in it, Big Ben can dominate the glass. And that's one of the keys to the game.

Down by 4 after the first. 3 bench guys in there to close the quarter out. Speights came in early. I'm wondering if Jordan is shuffling the deck so we don't have to see the entire second squad in the second. 23-19.

I think sam sucking offensively and playing terribly offensively and Speights being that much better than Sam offensively had more to do with it, Sam had some jr high looking plays on the offensive end early in the game.

Pitiful first half. Getting dominated on the defensive glass, Pistons are leading in fast break points. Sixers have attempted 3 free throws so far. Down 43-37 and in serious need of a wake up call in the locker room.

Young plays so bad I can't even find words for that. Not only on offense but his defense has to be the worst on the team right now. Even Kapono plays better defense than Thad. And on offense he makes one bad play after another. Hey kid, if you can't hit even when your open, just STOP TO SHOOT THAT DAMN BALL!!!

Talk to me when Elton Brand plays 20+ games, is confident he won't aggravated his injury and is back into NBA game shape which you just can't get into in pre-season, not completely. I'm not worried about brand yet

defensive rotations bother me, but the big thing is the substitution pattern. Jordan can't throw in a pack of second teamers in the middle of the second and expect them to keep pace with the opponent. And seriously WHY is IVEY PLAYING??

No Carney, no Holiday in the first half. Speights/Smith just can't keep Ben wallace off the boards. This season has been a real headscratcher thus far from a rotation standpoint.

Can't blame Jordan, they gave him much of nothing to work with. No matter the coach, anyone would struggle. Although I would like to see him mix and match the bench w/ the starters a l'il more like DiLeo did last year.

OK, forget about how EB has looked. Did you just see what happened when they gave him the ball in a good spot? He backed his man down and drew a foul (should've been a three-point play). Where has that play been all year? Why don't they give him the ball somewhere where he's actually a threat?

Another offensive board and put-back. Sixers need to get 2 stops every time down the floor.

Mini-run there leading to a timeout. Down 3 midway through the third. I'm still disgusted. Iguodala needs to start coming back and working the d-glass, but he can't because he's sticking to Gordon on the perimeter. Ugh.

Down 5 heading into the fourth. It's pretty funny, actually. The Piston offense is pretty bad, but the Sixers can't secure a rebound to save their lives. Every time they get a rebound or two, they go on a run. I've seen enough of Willie for today. Kapono has gotten no burn, maybe 4 or 5 minutes. DNPCD Holiday, yet again.

Why? B/c do you think the 5 guys that make up the staff plus Stefanski haven't seen for themselves for the last 6+ weeks that he doesn't possess something they are looking for. It has nothing to do with my personal likes. I can see past that, unlike some others.

When your head coach goes public with the media and says clearly that he is looking for the first guard off the bench to step up and distinguish himself and for 2 straight games you (Jrue) earn no playing time? That is an indictment on the player when taking into account the competition.

Again... one player is 22, the other 19. So you wanted the older guy because the Sixers are ready to contend right away? You can't compare a 19 year old and a 22 year old after 5 games in the NBA. Especially if you are a fan of one and have never seen the other play.

Well, buddy, it looks like you are the one comparing and started this comparison talk...This here guy was discussing a Sixers player. I'm watching a game and you are delving into a needless debate.

For the umpteenth time I saw the kid play approx. 20 college games.

Funny how just b/c I like other players, that is somehow held against me b/c I have an unbiased opinion on Jrue and his lack of court time this year. Really is funny. It's like some of you are Jrue's parents or something, sheesh.

All those comparisons and hyperbole are irrelevant. The issue here is whether you agree or not with the reasoning of Jrue not getting on the court because (a)he hasn't shown enough, (b)he can't distinguish himself from Willie or Royal, or (c)the staff realizes he isn't ready and don't want to hinder his confidence by throwing him to the wolves. Or a myriad of other reasons that the staff, and staff only, is knowledgeable of.

You should re-read the thread. Not once did I mention that anyone doesn't 'believe in the kid's potential'; I'm merely giving reasons why Jrue hasn't gotten off the bench the last two games after his head coach (and staff) went public saying he was still looking for a 'first guard' off the bench. Why did I give those reasons? Because there are many that think Jordan is just toying with the kid and won't play him and the fault is all on Jordan. Anyone ever involved in basketball or coaching of it, simply know that is not the case. At what point do you put personal hopes and expectations aside and let reality set in? At what point does some level of fault lie with the player?

And you don't agree with that line of reasoning? So you agree that the fans know more about this kid's development (or lack of) than a staff and management that has evaluated him formally for 6+ weeks and informally for over two months? Come on....

I'm responding directly to the "Jrue is to blame", because it implies that he's done anything wrong or could be doing more to get on the court. I think it's quite common for someone as young as he is to not get court time, regardless of how hard he's working or how developed he is for his age. He just doesn't have experience, and it makes sense to put him in places where he succeeds. in essence, I do agree with the (c) portions of your reasoning, but to me that doesn't jive with the "jrue is to blame" statement that caused my response.

I'd say a break is needed to, with the wrongful and needless attacking of a Sixer diehard. But that's cool if some prefer it that way. Different strokes for different for different folks. Thought the mantra was to stick to basketball discussion?

Accepted. But seriously, don't hold the staff (or me) under the gun b/c the kid doesn't get off the bench. Some accountability has to fall on the player. You can't possibly assume that the staff is trying to win games (regardless of the rotations) and not putting the guys out there that they feel gives them the best chance to win.

And I'm not piling on Jrue here (I've stated that I want to see him succeed, after all he plays for my favorite team) but after those public quotes the other day and he can't even show more than Willie G or Ivey? It has to be on him. It's not like he was playing his ass off in practices and the coaches just want to be pricks and not play the kid. Let's be realistic here.

Also be realistic. You are talking the youngest player in the league and his 1st week in the NBA. Also a new staff trying to install a new offense and defense.

Not really a situation we'd expect the kid to get minutes. Once the season progresses I'll be disappointed if he is not part of the rotation- but for now I don't think it reflects badly on player or coach. Make judgments later this year if he's not playing and 2-3 years from now if he's not developing.

I'm not passing judgment. I'm just laying out reasons for the kid not seeing the court besides the worn out 'why won't Jordan play the kid'. His rotations may be funky but this one isn't on the head coach.

And I'd beg to differ that it's 'not really a situation we'd expect the kid to get minutes'. Expectations (dashed to this point) sure seem high around here. But, how can you not 'expect' the kid to get minutes when EJ made those bold statements to the press the other day and his only competition is Willie G and Ivey. Not exactly a murderer's row.

Watching him play this summer he looked like a solid defender, but not ready to play sig NBA minutes yet. I really have zero expectations for him this year... but am hopeful he can overachieve for a #17 pick down the line similar the Thad and Speights.

People should not have expected a 19 year old with no college PG experience to step in and be a quality NBA PG his first year. But on the flip side, the P.O. should allow him to get some minutes eventually since he won't have to be a true PG.